Happy Mother's Day early. Thought I would put out my Mother's Day blog a little early before we get bombarded with all the mass social media mother's day blogs. You know the one's "Everyday is Mother's Day," or "Real Moms," or "I Don't Want to Be a Mom Anymore," type blogs with really catchy titles to entice you to click on them. However, that is not what this blog is. I am not going to overload you with how wonderful mothers are, or make you feel a little more special about yourself after you raised your voice a little too stern to your little one. But what I do aim to tell you is this.

Mom's are real. We are awesome at some things, and failures at other things. We are happy, but sometimes are sad, frustrated, angry, anxious, and overbearing. But in the midst of all of that we are one big pile of love. We aren't pros, and are still trying to figure out what this thing called mom is. Every day is new, and every child is different. God didn't give us 4 of the same kid, so we are trying the best we can to figure out what and who to be to each child.

Sometimes…ok most days we look forward to nap time so we can take a deep breath, hide under our beds, eat a big tub of ice-cream, and take a moment to remember we aren't losing our minds. No we don't hate spending time with our kids, or wish we had hours upon hours to ourselves, but most days we need that chocolate candy bar, quiet moment, and deep breath to give us a little energy shot to keep us going.

If I were to leave you mothers with one idea, it would be this. When the guy at the grocery store looks at you and says, "it must be nap time," and in your head you know it isn't. Smile back and don't take it to heart. He has no idea what it is like to be a mother, and that's ok. Those days you want to cry because you are just too tired. That day, eat an extra piece of chocolate, the extra calorie won't count. I guess what I am trying to say is, give yourself grace. We need it. We need Jesus every second of every day, and he is constantly pouring out his lavishing love and grace. Just grab hold of it. Let Him fill you, that you may spill over that grace and love to your children.

God didn't call us as mothers to just get by. He has blessed us with our children for a temporary period to shepherd their hearts, and teach them what it looks like to love unconditionally, give more grace to the undeserved, and raise them up to be utterly in love with the king of kings. They need to see imperfect parents who need Jesus every day. They need to know it is ok to mess up, but Jesus is more than enough. They need to know they are loved by us, but most importantly they are loved by Jesus. And they need to know grace is free, and there is more than enough of it every second of everyday.